Rushmoor Wellesley 10k, Fleet 10k and Royal Parks Half Marathon

In a gap without any league fixtures, Farnham Runners enjoyed taking part in some local races.

Rushmoor Wellesley 10k

With a team of 24, the club was delighted to be overall club winners at the recent Rushmoor Wellesley 10k, their spirits not dampened by the pouring rain.

Farnham Runners also provided the first male and the second ladies’ team, with some excellent individual results. James Clark was second male in a splendid 36 minutes 24 seconds, followed by Simon Carson Jones in 41: 40 (5th M40) and Oliver Lovell in 41:46. The ladies were led in by Emma Pearson in 46:55, first in the F45 category, Billy McCulloch in 47:45 (4th F45) and Kayleigh Copeland in 48:00 (4th senior lady). The Farnham M60s got a hat trick: first Mike Anderson in 41:47, second Terry Copeland in 45:18 and third Justin Clarke in 45:41. Jean Drummond was 3rd F70 in 1:10:05.

Billy McCulloch comments:

“From the friendly greeting of the Blackwater Valley Runners team at the number collection desk at Aldershot Cricket club on the Saturday, to the involvement of the Greater Rushmoor Nepali community, this really was a great and very well organised local 10k.

As a first timer to the event, and a tongue in cheek recommendation from a fellow runner to wear one each off road and trail shoes, I now completely understand why they suggested this for the course.

After a fun warm up, we gathered at the Rushmoor Park Run start, where the 2k children runners lined up alongside the 10 k runners so we all went off together. The first 1k was a blowy run around the polo playing fields, made more interesting by the puddles and mud from the previous day of rain. The route then took us out along the Basingstoke canal towpath, where we had to be careful of our footing, before carrying on out through the Wellesley Woodland footpaths. The rain started midway through the race and then the heavens really opened. Supported by enthusiastic marshals to the end, runners were invited to ring a bell to celebrate the achievement of a personal best.”

Other Farnham times: Tim Farrant 44:26, Steve Bailey 44:58, Damien Probett 52:27, Kay Copeland 54:09, Clive Frostick 55:12, Paul Mackie 54:58, Clair Bailey 57:24, Geoff Brown 58:39, Jane Probett 58:59, Robert Drummond 1:02:09, Susan McKenzie 1:05:34, Jacquie Browne 1:12:29, Carolyn Wickham 1:15:41, Alison Mungall 1:26:33.

Fleet 10k

The following weekend James Clarke was delighted to take 35 seconds from his personal best at the undulating Fleet 10km. His enviable new time of 34:44 placed him fourth of 673 finishers. Prizewinners among the seven Farnham Runners there were Mike Anderson, second M60 in 40:01 and Jane Georghiou first F60 in 48:50.

Other times: Tim Cummins 40:49, Ali Hardaway 42:10, Kayleigh Copeland 46:21, James Goodwin 48:14.

Royal Parks Half Marathon

A group of Farnham Runners, mostly from the Absolute Beginners’ group of 2016 tackled the recent Royal Parks Half marathon, some racing the challenging distance for the first time and others getting a PB. They were Victoria Gow, Tracey Holmes, Hannah Bence and Alison Yearsley, accompanied by Ian Loader and experienced marathoner Shirley Perrett.